Description

Khushal Khan Khatak (also seen as Khwushhal, 1613‒89) was a celebrated warrior-poet, often called the national poet of Afghanistan. He was born near Peshawar, the son of Shahbaz Khatak, chief of the Khatak tribe. By appointment of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, in 1641 he succeeded his father as chief of the Khatak tribe, but later was imprisoned by Shah Jahan’s powerful and harsh successor, Emperor Aurangzeb (reigned 1658–1707). Khatak eventually was permitted to return to Peshawar, where he incited the Pashtuns to unite and to revolt against ...